In recent years, artists, architects, young professionals and families have been moving into the area where the Harndens - both real estate agents - live and work, selling homes and restoring old bungalows and Victorians.

As agents, they've sold about 25 homes in the neighborhood, some multiple times, since around 2005. Last year was the first year Kay Harnden could recall a house selling for more than $300,000.

"A lot of Realtors and buyers are starting to look at this as a viable option to the Heights," she said.

Brooke Smith, historically a working-class neighborhood, has about 850 homes and is loosely bordered by North Main, Airline, Cavalcade and Interstate 45 North.

The median home price per square foot for a home there fell last year to $154.32, but for the past five years prices have been up an average of 5.6 percent, according to a analysis of home sales from Crawford Realty Advisors in conjunction with the Institute of Regional Forecasting at the University of Houston C.T. Bauer College of Business.

Few neighborhoods performed that well.

The Harndens said there hasn't been a lot of new construction in the neighborhood. The improvements are primarily on older homes.

The couple just completed their latest restoration project: a 1900 Victorian on Archer Street.The house was 900 square feet when Kay bought it 10 years ago for $153,000.

"What appealed to me was the old-house charm," she said, referring to the tall windows, high ceilings, pine floors and front porch.

Anthony Harnden took the house down to the studs and upgraded all the electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems. The interior, expanded to 1,800 square feet, has antique light fixtures, reclaimed hardwoods and shiplap, and doors, windows and shutters from historic structures.

They recently listed the house for $475,000, and it's now under contract for close to that price.

In about six months, they'll start work on another house they just bought a few doors over.